If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

As a fan of a team with tons of young pitching, I'd trade our young pitching for the position player prospects the Cubs have in a nanosecond...but I do think he's going a little too far on the position player side of things. The mid 2000's Rangers scored a trillion runs per game and had absolutely zero pitchers, and sucked. It's going to come down to whether or not Theo can find 4 more starters and keep up a solid bullpen.

As I cubs fan, my favorite thing about him is that he ripped off some teams with players who declined quickly, I doubt A's or Texans will trade with Theo again soon, or even the Orioles with Jake stepping his game up.

My favorite are the Dempster and Garza deals with the Rangers I think Kyle Hendricks has had as many quality starts as Dempster and Garza together. Neil Ramirez looks like a future closer, Grim can pitch out of the bullpen or be a 5 starter on a average to below average team. Mike Olt probably a bench player with power. Then theirs CJ who has potential to be mid to tor starter but theirs a lot of questions about his size plus another 3b in aa who would be a top 15 to 20 prospect in most systems. That was all for a couple of starts of Garza and Dempster.

Hammel sure as **** wasn't the centerpiece of that trade. A's didn't get killed in that trade at all. They wanted SP's before the market got crazy and they accomplished that.

Only time will tell how well the trade works out for both sides.

I don't think the As would give up Russell straight for Samardzja and McKinney for straight up for Hammel would of been a great deal for us alone. We basically got Russell and Straily for Shark and McKinney and ptbnl for Hammel. I doubt he ptbnl is any good probably just cash with Hammel getting removed out of their rotation.

What is your opinion on the Theo's Cubs Rebuild? (Non Cubs fans)

To me, they have to spend a little money to show they're serious. Every team can rebuild but if you're not willing to shell out a few big contracts, you're not as scary.

If they can sign Scherzer/Shields/Lester + Masterson/Ervin Santana/McCarthy/Vogelsong even and trade Castro/Russell/Baez for a prospect such as Syndegard (since the rumors are so prevalent.) or another couple of pitching prospects. Or even trade for Cole Hamels.

The pieces are there but IMO their offense has too much bust potential for me to put stock in them. (Baez, inconsistent hitting of Castro, I even hear Alcantara has high bust potential as well.) For all we know, Bryant can be the next Brandon Wood (if that is his name)

I don't know but maybe it's just because I don't value prospects as much as the next guy. I think there's plenty of potential for their prospects to take them far on their own but the team needs veteran, proven, major league talent more.

If Trump can become president with no political background then I don't understand why I need a resumé

Position player prospects also have a proclivity to bust at a lower rate. Where as pitching can sometimes develop out of nowhere.

But the Cubs will need to get pitching at some point, but there is no rush.

Take the best bats that you can, develop a 1-8 lineup of strong assets, and potentially trade some of those guys from some young pitchers, or sign some young pitchers.

The real questions for me are two things.

1. Will they lock these kids up to team friendly deals like Rizzo and to a lesser extent Castro
2. What will their bust rates be

I like how they picked up a handful of younger pitchers that other teams have maybe given up on too quickly. If they can get just one of Jacob Turner, Felix Doubront, or Dan Straily back on track ala Jake Arrieta, it'd be a big win. Justin Grimm could get another look as a starter, too. Obviously Jacob Turner is the one with the biggest impact potential. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out, but it's an interesting strategy.

I like how they picked up a handful of younger pitchers that other teams have maybe given up on too quickly. If they can get just one of Jacob Turner, Felix Doubront, or Dan Straily back on track ala Jake Arrieta, it'd be a big win. Justin Grimm could get another look as a starter, too. Obviously Jacob Turner is the one with the biggest impact potential. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out, but it's an interesting strategy.

Turner had a good debut for the cubs, I think their is still a good chance he becomes a number 3 starter. The marlins could of gotten a better return on him if they would of traded him during the offseason.